Welcome to the Wolfpack - Part 4/4

Posted on Fri Jul 4th, 2025 @ 1:25am by Commander Scarlet Blake & Lieutenant JG Lovisa Montague & Chief Warrant Officer Alexion Wylde & Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark & Petty Officer 1st Class Ember Locksley & Civilian Verity Thorne & Commander Cornelius 'Kit' Hanlon & Crewman Mateo Gardel & Lieutenant JG Aria Rice & Petty Officer 3rd Class Helliun Inant

1,365 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: To Boldly Go
Location: Messhall, Deck 4, USS Fenrir
Timeline: MD 13 - 2045

ON:

Kit smiled as he looked at the crowd, seeing that they were talking and drinking and...well, it was good to see. Even Mateo, whom he had strongly encouraged to come here, was engaged in conversation. He looked over, seeing their Captain arrive, a small smile coming to him. That was his cue. He moved to a chair and stood on it, grinning. "Crew of the USS Fenrir!!" he shouted, his voice carrying in the Mess. One thing he had been blessed with was a good set of lungs if he needed to use them. "There's not much to say the day before a launch, except...thank you. A thank you to all of you, and those who aren't at this party, for the hard work and messed up shift patterns you've had to deal with. Thank you for your grace when things have been displaced, not configured right, in a language that we couldn't understand...all the things that come with a new ship, especially a retrofit. So...a toast," he reached down for a glass and raised it. "To you all. To the ship. And to Captain Scarlet Blake."

Mateo stayed where he was, one shoulder braced lightly against the support beam, glass cupped loosely in both hands as Commander Hanlon’s voice cut across the noise. He hadn’t expected to listen—had figured it would be the usual mix of platitudes and protocol—but something in Hanlon’s tone caught him off guard. Real. Unpolished. Grateful in a way that didn’t ask for anything back. Without thinking, Mateo straightened a little, tension easing out of muscles by degrees. Around him, glasses lifted, and after a beat’s hesitation, he raised his too—low, almost to himself. It wasn’t about the ship. It wasn’t even about the Captain. It was about being seen—the work, the chaos, the people who kept the gears turning even when no one noticed. And for once, Mateo didn’t feel like a bystander looking in. He felt like he was already part of it.

Aria watched with a small smile, looking over at Blake with a small smile. If she knew her friend and Captain, she was itching to go. Hanlon though, seemed in his element, the informality of it all suiting him. She took a moment to study him, his eyes, his facial hair. Okay, so sort of cute. Not her type. And unattainable anyway, since he was a senior officer. Aria knew better than to climb that tree; the fall down would be long and painful. She raised her glass to the toast and knocked it back with ease.

"The Fenrir..." Gabriel Stark called back with the group, tapping his glass firmly to Aria's as he sidled up alongside his best mate. He draped his elbow on her perfectly placed shoulder, knocking his drink back with the toast. Not that he ever needed an excuse to drink up...but there was a whole table of refreshment waiting to be explored, and he fully intended to try one from every jug before the night was out.

"To the ship," Ember Locksley answered the toast with the ease of someone who was used to them. She lifted her glass towards the First Officer before sipping delicately from it. Her dark red hair was pinned intricately up, and her classic black dress was simple in design, but made of real silk and had been tailored by hand. There was a note of excitement in her from the toast, at the prospect of being on a vessel that was ready to launch. The promise of adventure without the fatigue of experience. After weeks of physical therapy, recovering from the destruction of her last ship, she was more than ready to get back out to the great unknown.

Hel laughed as she raised her glass in a loud cheer, looking over at Ember with a smile. She just drained her glass before she winked at her and then looked over at the others gathered. At the energy that seemed to vibrate in the room.

Alexion Wylde maintained a determined silence, simply lifting his glass and draining his drink in one go to mark the toast. He was already eyeing the door up though, planning his exit route. He wouldn't have come at all if it were up to him...parties weren't exactly his scene. Well, not unless the lights were low, the smoke was thick, the games tables were lucrative and the drinks were bottomless, but that was another story entirely. However, he had been told in no uncertain terms that he was expected to at least show his face. So he had. And it was more than enough.

"To the ship...to the Captain!" Lovisa smiled warmly as she lifted her own glass before sipping the delicately flavoured wine. She glanced around the room, warmed by the atmosphere that had settled over the crew. After so much work to get the ship ready for launch, it was just the remedy they needed. And besides, hope always sprang eternal in the young science officer's heart; this was no exception.

"The ship," Verity echoed the toast that rang around the room, enjoying the last of his drink with it...whatever it was. It had come from one of the ominously coloured jugs on the table. This had been the perfect opportunity for the chaplain to take in the crew he would be serving. There were already connections being built, and he had no doubt that more would flourish in the coming months.



Blake watched the crew turn back to talk to each other, and the music was turned up a couple of notches in a way that indicated the party was about to truly start. She glanced to Kit with an arched eyebrow of accusation. She wouldn't have come at all if he hadn't of strong-armed her into by muttering something about setting an example. "Am I dismissed now?" she teased lightly. Well, there was more than just a note of truth to it. She fully intended to leave as soon as possible. Not that she hadn't enjoyed a party or two in her time. But one like this, where her name was brought up in the toast? It was excruciating.

Kit watched her with a small smile and patience in his eyes. He gave her a nod, moving close to her for a moment. "Thank you. I suspect you hate things like this with a passion but...look at them all. They're a crew now. Your crew."

Scarlet glanced across to the group that had gone back to chatting amongst themselves. Every single one of them was now her responsibility. No pressure. She smiled gently all the same. Somewhere, someone turned the music up even more, a true sign that people were ready to let their hair down. "I don't know...make it a masquerade next time and you might be surprised," she said lightly, casting him a coy look before taking her leave.

"Now you're giving me ideas," Kit said softly, watching her go before he smiled. He looked around the rest of the crew, at the people who were bonding and laughing. This, this was the crew of the Fenrir. These people would go out, work together, have experiences unique to the ship. They'd forge bonds...and most likely some rivalries along the way. And as he stood there, he could only feel pride at being in a position where he got to not only witness it all, but also help where he could.

OFF:


Commander Scarlet Blake
Commanding Officer
USS Fenrir

Commander Cornelius 'Kit' Hanlon
First Officer
USS Fenrir

Crewman Mateo Gardel
Medical Science Specialist
USS Fenrir

Lieutenant JG Aria Rice
Assistant Chief Security Officer
USS Fenrir
(PNPC - Hanlon)

PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security
USS Fenrir
(PNPC - Blake)

Dr. Ember Locksley
Counsellor
USS Fenrir
(PNPC Blake)

PO3 Helliun Inant
Engineering
USS Fenrir
(PNPC - Hanlon)

Dr. Alexion Wylde
Medical
USS Fenrir
(PNPC - Blake)

Lieutenant JG Lovisa Montague
Science Officer
USS Fenrir
(PNPC - Blake)

Verity Thorne
Chaplain
USS Fenrir
(PNPC - Blake)

 

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